By Sascha Cordner
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wfsu/local-wfsu-992391.mp3
Tallahassee, FL – With an appeal to a judge's ruling that blocks a prison privatization plan in place, the Florida Department of Corrections has decided to re-open the bidding process for private prison companies to bid on 29 South Florida prison facilities. Sascha Cordner has more.
Earlier this week, Attorney General Pam Bondi filed an appeal on behalf of the Florida legislature in response to Leon Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford's ruling that the way the legislature put a provision into the budget to privatize public prisons in the South Florida region is unconstitutional.
Now, with the filed appeal, the Florida Department of Corrections, listed as a defendant in the lawsuit, has decided to move forward with the bidding process and evaluate proposals due Thursday, November 10th at 2 p.m.
But, the Department states that out of respect for the ongoing litigation, the agency will not sign a contract until the final outcome is decided.